Former advanced placement student guilty of murder

Updated 12:41 am, Thursday, November 8, 2012

Jasjeet Singh, seen on Nov. 1, 2012, faces five years to life in prison for the killing of Brian Odipo, 17, a former track standout at the Stevens High School.

Jasjeet Singh, seen on Nov. 1, 2012, faces five years to life in prison for the killing of Brian Odipo, 17, a former track standout at the Stevens High School.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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Jasjeet Singh, left, with one of his lawyers, Donald Flanary III, on Nov. 1, 2012.

Jasjeet Singh, left, with one of his lawyers, Donald Flanary III, on Nov. 1, 2012.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

Image 3 of 3

Jasjeet Singh, seen on Nov. 1, 2012, faces five years to life in prison for the killing of Brian Odipo, 17, a former track standout at the Stevens High School.

Jasjeet Singh, seen on Nov. 1, 2012, faces five years to life in prison for the killing of Brian Odipo, 17, a former track standout at the Stevens High School.

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

Former advanced placement student guilty of murder

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A Bexar County jury Wednesday convicted former Stevens High advanced placement student Jasjeet Singh of murdering a classmate.

The verdict leaves Singh facing five years to life in prison for the killing of Brian Odipo, 17, a former track standout at the school.

The sentencing phase began following Wednesday's verdict and continues this morning.

Reiterating this week's testimony of Singh, his lawyer, John Convery, said in closing arguments Wednesday that Singh took the gun away and fired in self-defense after Odipo came towards him with the gun pointed.

Singh, now 19, also testified that he was looking to sell the gun to Brian Odipo, when he ended up instead shooting him in the head and leg.

Singh was arrested after the Oct. 15, 2010, shooting.

At the time, he said he “freaked out” and lied to police, telling them Odipo was shot by a burglar at Singh's home.

But on the witness stand, Singh said he became angry and confronted Odipo after Odipo tested the gun by firing it in the backyard.

Singh also said he became fearful because Odipo came at him with the gun pointed and said, “Man, don't tell me what to (expletive) do.”

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Singh said he wrestled the gun from Odipo and it fired twice, a story Convery repeated in his closing arguments.

Convery also alleged the investigation was shoddy because among other things, officers never tested Odipo's hands for gunshot residue to see if he handled the gun. Convery also said the shooting happened fast — without any planning — and reminded jurors that his client was a good student with no criminal record.

“Why do we tell people not to engage in guns? Because they're dangerous,” he said.

But prosecutors contend Singh's version contradicts what Singh's friend recalled happening — that Singh was angry with Odipo — and Singh's own account to police at the time.

Witness Sean Quinn said he walked into the home as Singh opened fire — standing about 15 feet from Odipo. Quinn said Singh then walked up and fired a second shot after Odipo fell to the ground.

“His reason was not self-defense. His reason was not fear,” prosecutor David Lunan said in closing arguments. “His reason was anger.”